Acquires EBA communications and doubles in size. Digital marketing service expected to be rolled out soon.

PR and digital communications agency Lewis has acquired China PR specialist EBA Communications. The deal will see Lewis double its size in APAC. It will go from a regional staff strength of 50 to 100 and from $4 million to $8 million in revenue. Its combined global revenue is expected to touch $65 million this year. CEO Chris Lewis called the acquisition "a significant milestone" in the agency’s growth.

The Lewis APAC network now covers eight offices in APAC: Bangalore, Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, Singapore and Sydney. The agency is expected to open offices in Indonesia and India later this year. Claudia Choi, currently MD of EBA Communications, will spearhead the combined growth plans in a new role as VP, Greater China. Euan Barty will continue in an advisory role following the acquisition.

The EBA mainland China offices will continue to operate autonomously as EBA Communications, a wholly owned Lewis company. The EBA Hong Kong office will merge with the Lewis local office. It currently has 28 wholly owned offices across the US, EMEA and Asia Pacific.

"We are especially keen to roll out the digital marketing services from Lewis Pulse." said Claudia Choi, VP, Greater China, at EBA Communications.